LAST Sunday, riders representing Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, UCD Vets and RCSI all congregated at Brennanstown Riding School to take part in the annual Equestrian Colours competition, organised by Trinity’s Dublin University Equestrian Club). Across the three disciplines of dressage, prix caprilli and showjumping, the standard of riding was immensely high with excellent displays of skill, and stickability!

Dressage was dominated by DUEC members, who took five of the six spots in the second round, accompanied by one rider from UCD.

Christina Keane judged as they battled it out between the boards to establish the two finalists. The final was close, but finally DUEC’s Alexandra Wrede took the top spot, with Cáit Murphy (also DUEC) in second.

Emma Kennedy, Alice Alexander, Isabelle Odlum (DUEC) and Muireann Spain (UCD) took third, fourth, fifth and sixth respectively. The DUEC trio of Cáit Murphy, Emma Kennedy and Alice Alexander took first in the team competition, with another DUEC team in second place and a UCD team in third.

The prix caprilli was won by the DUEC team of Zoe Coakley, Aisha Khaled and Madelyn Eaves, with a combined DUEC and UCD team coming in second. Madelyn Eaves from DUEC came first individually with a very stylish round, followed by Avery Smith in second, and Aisha Khaled in third, both also from DUEC.

The day culminated with the showjumping competition, contested by 28 riders. Of these, eight progressed through to the second round, with fences at a height of one metre. There were some nail-biting moments, particularly at the last fence, a set of planks, but luckily no one hit the floor. Ciara Torpey came in sixth, Will Armstrong fifth, Jack Hutchinson fourth and Robbie Kearns in third (all members of DUEC).

The final rounds were between Cian Weldon from DUEC, and Niamh O’Shaughnessy from UCD Vets team. They both rode the 1.20m course with style, but Weldon unfortunately knocked a pole in one of his rounds. O’Shaughnessy managed to perform under the pressure, leaving all her fences up to clinch the win. Consolation for Weldon was being a member of the winning team along with Jemma Parkhill and Sean Cassidy, with another DUEC team in second, and a UCD team in third.

DUEC would like to thank The Irish Field for their support, Dubarry for the prizes, and judges, Christina Keane, Jane Andrews and Hugh Weldon and the whole team at Brennanstown Riding School, especially Jane, Louise and Gerald Bloomer for ensuring the day ran smoothly, and for providing horses of a great standard for all of our riders at a superb location.